Chrysanthemum plant cultivar name: Radiant

ABSTRACT

A chrysanthemum plant known by the cultivar name Radiant and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form; spooned daisy capitulum type; dark red bronze abaxial ray floret color; golden bronze adaxial ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 75 to 100 mm. at maturity; uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; tall plant height when grown as a pinched spray pot; and semi-upright branching pattern.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Radiant.

Radiant is a product of a planned breeding program which had the objective of creating new chrysanthemum cultivars with spoon daisy capitulum type, with bronze ray floret color, with eight or nine week flowering response, and with the ability to produce commercially acceptable quality in year round pot mum programs. Such traits in combination were not present in previously available commercial cultivars.

Radiant was originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding program in Barberton, Ohio in 1975. The female parent was #74077002 (unnamed seedling), a lavender single originated by the present inventors from a cross between #67586001 (unnamed seedling) and #71078021 (unnamed seedling). The male parent of Radiant was #72220003 (unnamed seedling), a lavender decorative originated by the present inventors from a cross between #70042004 (unnamed seedling) and #71071009 (unnamed seedling). #67586001, #71078021, #70042004 and #71071009 are products of the breeding program of the present inventors.

Radiant was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by Walter H. Jessel, Jr. and William E. Duffett on Nov. 12, 1976 in a controlled environment in Barberton, Ohio.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Radiant was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in February, 1977 in a controlled environment in Barberton, Ohio, by a technician working under formulations established and supervised by William E. Duffett. Continued asexual reproduction by vegetative cuttings for evaluative tests in flowering and stock programs in conjunction with horticultural examination of selected units initiated November, 1977 has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Radiant are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Radiant has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and daylength. The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of Radiant which in combination distinguish this chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Flat capitulum form.

(2) Spooned daisy capitulum type.

(3) Red bronze abaxial ray floret color and golden bronze adaxial ray floret color.

(4) Diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 75 to 100 mm. at maturity.

(5) Uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days.

(6) Tall plant height (requiring 1-2 long day weeks prior to pinch and short days, and two applications 2500 ppm B-9 SP 14 to 21 days after the beginning of short days to attain a flowered plant height of 30 to 45 cm.).

(7) Semi-upright branching pattern.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence and foliage characteristics of Radiant, with colors being as nearly true as possible with illustrations of this type. Sheet 1 is a color photograph of the inflorescence of Radiant. Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of the capitulum of Radiant. Sheet 3 is a black and white photograph of the foliage of Radiant at three stages of growth.

Of the many cultivars known to the present inventors, the most similar in comparison to Radiant are Jamboree, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,156, and Dramatic, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,189. Reference is made to attached Chart A which compares certain characteristics of Radiant to those same characteristics of Jamboree and Dramatic. General comparisons are as follows:

(1) In comparison to Jamboree, Radiant has different ray floret color, smaller diameter across face of capitulum, and greater responsiveness to B-9 SP for height control. The capitulum form, capitulum type, branching pattern, plant height, and flowering response period of Radiant are similar to those same characteristics of Jamboree.

(2) In comparison to Dramatic, Radiant has different ray floret color, different capitulum type, and larger diameter across face of capitulum. The capitulum form, branching pattern, plant height, responsiveness to B-9 SP for height control, and flowering response period of Radiant are similar to those same characteristics of Dramatic.

In the following description, color references are made to A Limit Color Cascade, by the Munsell Company, 1972 edition. The color values were determined between 1:30 and 2:00 P.M. on Nov. 11, 1978 under 100 foot-candle light intensity at Salinas, Calif.

Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cv Radiant.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Spooned daisy.

Diameter across face.--75 to 100 mm.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality).--Light golden bronze (27-7 overlaid lightly with 28-11) with red bronze (36-14) spoon.

Color (abaxial).--36-14 (inside spoon tip).

Color (adaxial).--28-2 to 28-3 overlaid slightly with 36-14 (tube).

Persistence.--Resists shatter.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color.--20-10 (immature) to 26-4 (mature).

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present disc florets only; moderate pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Branching pattern.--Semi-upright.

Height.--Tall.

B. Foliage:

Color (abaxial).--Approximately 20-14.

Color (adaxial).--Approximately 20-13 overlaid with white.

                  CHART A                                                          ______________________________________                                         COMPARISON OF RADIANT, JAMBOREE, AND                                           DRAMATIC.                                                                      ______________________________________                                                  RAY                                                                            FLORET     CAPITULUM    BRANCHING                                     CULTIVAR COLOR      FORM & TYPE  PATTERN                                       ______________________________________                                         Radiant  Red bronze Flat spooned Semi-                                                  flare and  daisy        upright                                                golden bronze                                                                  tube                                                                  Jamboree Orange bronze                                                                             Flat spooned Semi-                                                  flare and  daisy        upright                                                yellow bronze                                                                  tube                                                                  Dramatic Golden bronze                                                                             Flat daisy   Semi-                                                  to yellow               upright                                       ______________________________________                                                  DIAMETER                                                                       ACROSS                  FLOWERING                                              FACE OF      PLANT      RESPONSE                                      CULTIVAR CAPITULUM    HEIGHT     PERIOD                                        ______________________________________                                         Radiant   75 to 100 mm.                                                                              Tall,      9 week                                                              responsive                                                                     to B9 SP                                                 Jamboree 100 to 110 mm.                                                                              Tall, not  9 week                                                              responsive                                                                     to B-9 SP                                                Dramatic  65 to 90 mm.                                                                               Tall,      9 week                                                              responsive                                                                     to B-9 SP                                                ______________________________________                                         COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS                                                     GROWN AS PINCHED SPRAY                                                         POTS IN SALINAS, CALIFORNIA.                                               

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., plant as shown and described, known by the cultivar name Radiant and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form; spooned daisy capitulum type; red bronze abaxial and golden bronze adaxial ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 75 to 100 mm. at the maturity; uniform nine week flowering response; tall plant height; and semi-upright branching pattern. 